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No. 620,96l. v Patented Mar. |4-, I899.

.1. PRATT. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(Application filed Fab. 15, 1896.)

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TYPE WRITING MACHINE. (Application filed mi. 15, 1896. (N9 llodeI.) 4'She'ets-Shoat 2.

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No.-620,96|. Patented Mar. l4, I899.

J. PRATT.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 15, 1898.)

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N0. 620,96l- Patented'Mar. l4, I899.

' J. PRATT.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 15, 1896.)

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(No Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PRATT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE HAMMOND TYPE- WVRITER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

srE'cIricA'rmN forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,961, dated March 14, 1899. Application filed February 15, 1896. Serial No. 579,464. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that 1, JOHN PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, (Brooklyn,) in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Type-W'riting Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in type-writing machines of the class in which all the types are in one type-carrier.

The objects of myimprovement are speed, accuracy, efficiency in manifolding, and simplicity, cheapness, and durability of construc- 'tion.

My present invention consists in certain improvements on the constructions shown in my applications, Serial No. 540,168, filed March 1, 1895, and Serial No. 553,460, filed June 20, 1895, such improvements relating more particularly to the mechanism for. moving the type-plate laterally and locking the same and mechanisms for raising and lowering and looking the paper-carriage. The type-plate,means for bringing it close to the platen, means for rotating the platen, the impression mechanism, and the mechanism for feeding the ribbon are all substantially as shown and described in my said two applications, and I do not therefore claim the same herein.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the entire machine; Fig. 2, a plan of the machine with paper-carriage, ink-ribbon spools, and impression hammer removed; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal sectional righthand view along line a; 00 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a

Fig. 5, a rear elevation; Figs. 6 and 7, special views of page-feed mechanism; Fig. 8, a special view of reversing mechanism of the typeplate; Fig. 9, special view of stop mechanism.

Similar letters and numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A is a wooden case to which is secured the metal base-frame 168, to which is fixed all the mechanism for moving type-plate. Bar 85 is secured to standards 69.

The types are arranged in horizontal rows of the rear face of a rectangular plate j, which is preferably of thin sheet-celluloid, the type being molded thereon. The types are sawed change or cleaning.

apart after molding in vertical rows of preferably three types each, with the lower-case letters in the top row, upper casein the middle row, and figures and signs in the lower row.

The separation of the type triplets is in tended to secure clean impression free from smudging of adjacent types, the thin cellu loid imparting the requisite springiness for that end. In order that the work may be seen after each impression, the plate is set at about a quarter of an inch from the platen and is moved into contact therewith simultaneously with the hammer-stroke, but not by the hammer-stroke, as-this would lessen or prevent impression. Of this hereinafter.

The type-plate is provided with a thin bracket (preferably aluminium) 46, bent and perforated, through which passes a guide-rod t, on which it slides laterally. This rod rests in holes in the upper ends of the sides of an H-shaped frame 62, where it is confined by the metal strips 105, made thin and flexible in order that the rod and with it the typeplate may be readily withdrawn for inter- The type-plate has a V- shaped downward extension or prolongation which enters a slotted bracket 201, fixed to cross-bar of H-frame 62, by which it is held as it moves laterally in an upright position. This V prolongation is slotted, forming a yoke, as shown, to receive a-pin lo, fixed in the upper end of an arm 22 of shaft 106, rocking in hearings in bracket lO7,and plate 90, (see Fig. 8,) secured to the under face and front of bar 85. By the rotation of said shaft the type-plate is moved laterally. To the front end of this shaft is fixed arms 26 27 28. To the rear end arms 23 are fixed and bent to right angles. The front arms act usually as driverarms and the rear arms 23 as stop-arms; but in rapid manipulation the functions are often reversed. On the vertical face of plate 90 are pivoted the levers 3O 29 in such a position as to be normally out of touch of the arms 27 28 and brought into impact therewith when operated, their center of movement being sufficiently below said arms for that purpose. Corresponding to these levers 27 28 are transverse levers G m G m, each having near their outer ends fingers m reaching under said levers 29 and 30. Levers G m G m are lifted by key-levers B, having wood slats 52 53 riveted to their sides and adj usting-screws 15 passing through said slats. These screws are used to regulate the distance through which a given key-lever shall moveIsaid levers and through them the type-plate. Wood is used on account of its elasticity, securing said screws from displacement by the jar of the key-stroke. Arm 26 extends vertically between uprights 24 25 of levers Gm G m,locking shaft 106 and the type-plate normally.

When a right-hand key is struck, the arm 24 recedes forward from arm 26 and unlocks the shaft-arm 26, finger m raises outer arm of lever 30, inner'arm of said lever is depressed, bearing down arm 27, and the typeplate moves to right,leaving arm 25 in normal position to stop instantly the arm 26 and the type-plate in reverse movement,thus preventin g vibration after each stroke, for otherwise the arm 28 would pass out of the reach of lever 29 until the oscillation stopped, causing loss of speed in the alternating strokes of right and left key-levers. The action of the left-hand key-levers operates G m, lever 29, and arm 28 and moves type-plate to left, and all the movements are counterparts of that described.

Arms 23 of the type-shaft act usually as stops. Levers u a, bent along a part of their length to present a horizontal surface to the key-lever-adjusting screws 16, (see Fig. 3,) are pivoted to brackets 20, fixed to standards (59 and pass across the key-levers, nearly meeting midway. They are moved by said key-levers a distance regulated by said screws. Their vertical plane of motion is such as to bring them against the right or left arms 23 as one or the other moves downward. The type-plate is held normally midway of the movement by two springs 91, (see Fig. 8,) tensioned against brackets 92 and flexed by a pin 109 in type-shaft 106. This spring reverses the movement of type-plate, but in rapid manipulation, when the stop-arms 23 and levers u u act positively as drivers, the action of the reversing-spring is anticipated. I-Ieretofore in machines of this class the driver-levers, acting only as such, the stop device moving only at right angles to the type movement and not counter thereto,moved the type-carrier in only one direction, the reverse movement being accomplished by reversingspring only. Therefore when a key-stroke imparting a less movement followed a keystroke imparting a greater movement the latter does not move the type-carrier at all, but merely actuates the impression and feed devices,and consequently in rapid work these may be and often are too quick for the reversing-spring and anticipate it, making a wrong or split letter; but where each key on the same right or left hand series may move the type-carrier in opposite directions, according as the stop device acts as such or as a driver, this cannot occur. In this machine it has been shown that in a given series, right or left, this interchange of functions pertains, and by arranging, as is preferably done, all the most frequently-used letters subject to the right-hand series of keys the improve ment adds greatly to speed.

The H-frame carrying the type -plate is hinged to brackets 63, secured to bar 85, and is geared with arm 34 of shaft y by connecting-rod 33, so that when frame-lever g 74, hereinafter more fully described, is moved said frame and type-plate are moved forward into contact with roller-platen.

The paper-carriage consists of two end plates 40, bound together by bar 42, of large platen-roller D, small roller 44, supported on spring-brackets 45, fixed to bar 42, and said roller pressed in contact with the roller D by said brackets, of guide-rod R, and presser-bail O, carrying rollers P, pivoted to brackets Q, guide-scroll 76, secured to bar42, antifrictionrollers 60, also secured to bar 42, and a thin plate 41, secured to end plates 40 and in tended to guide and hold paper in upright position after passing between rollers D and 44. The paper is introduced between large roller and scroll 7 6,which guides to lips of the two rollers, and these move it to guide 41, and the presserframe is dropped upon it to hold it in contact with the roller-platen. The carriage travels on said antifriction-rollers upon a bar 19, which forms part of a frame device to be described hereinafter. It is held upright by guide-rod R, resting in a vertical slot in standard S. Set-screw collars 110 limit the movement of the paper-carriage. Said guide-rod moves laterally for line-feed and vertically in said slot, as hereinafter shown, for-another purpose.

The line-feed mechanism consists of the ratchet-bar 112, secured to swing-frame E, pivoted to carriage end plates at 43, having a perforated projection for fastening pulleycord, also of pulley-wheel T, spring U to tension by friction-arm V, secu red with set-screw to its shaft. The swing-frame hinged to carriage is employed instead of a rigid device, so as to allow the feed to be operated at any vertical position of said carriage. The feed is accomplished by the usual escapement mechanism geared with said ratchet-bar. This consists of the frame-lever y 74, operated by all the key-levers severally, arm 68, mounted on shaft y and having free angular movement thereon, as well as therewith, and resting at the free end on 74, upon which it is pressed by spring 101, tcnsioned by set-screw collar 100. Arm 68 has an upper prolongation slotted to receive a pin 113. This pin is fixed in the lower limb of a lever 9, pivoted to a plate 8, secured to'standard S. Lever 9 carries an escapement consisting of pallets 1O 11, engagingratchet-bar. The reciprocating movement of frame-lever y '74 is communicated to said escapement in the well-known way. Arm 68 rests on the end of the space-key C, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) and having a free movement on shaft lifting a detent.

'J moves independently of it when operated by space-key, spring 101 reversing the movement. The large forward movement, as well as the reverse movement, of carriage is made by lifting swing-frame, as hereinafter shown; but nothing is claimed here as novel.

The page feed mechanism consists of a ratchet-wheel w, secured to end of roller D; pawl W, hinged to arm 2', which is the prolongation of a disk rotating on the axis of roller D; a slotted pawl-driver d, straddling said pawl; a shaft e, whereon said pawl-driver is mounted; a reversing-spring), tensioned by set-screw collar 115; athumb-plateN, secured to said shaft and slotted at its lower end to receive an adjusting-screw 50, having a nut 51, also a'friction-washer 78, (see Fig. 7,) and collar- 75. Initially the pawl is lifted out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel, so that the large roll may be revolved either way without In many other devices of this class the pawl or a detent is initially in engagement with ratchet-Wheel. The pagefeed is operated by pressing the upper arm of thumb-plate in pushing back the carriage. This first brings the pawl in gear with the ratchet, because the friction oftho pawl-bearing is less than that of the pawl-disk 2, which is held against the friction-washer 78 by collar 75. Continuing to press thumb-plate the roller is rotated. In reversing the movement of the paper-carriage arm I), mounted on shaft 6, acts as a cam on an arm a, forming an upward prolongation of frame E and bent where it is engaged by b. The same pressure of thumb-plate N actuates ratchet and lifting E frees it from escapement.

The impression mechanism consists of a hammer J, having the face prolonged vertically to cover the shifting field of impression, of connecting-rod s, geared with aprojection 116 on the right end of hammer-shaft, (see Fig. 3,) and an arm 70, freely mounted on shaft g. It is important to time the hammer-stroke without great waste of power, so as to instantly follow and not precede the stop of the type. I employ a mechanism to retard its movement. This consists of said arm 70, having free angular movement on shaft, aset-screw collar 5, having a pin 6 passing behind arm 70, and of a spring 3, tensioned by collar 4 against arm 70, which is thereby pressed against pin 6 for normal position. Now when frame-lever y 74 is operated the hammer is moved against the tension of spring 3,which yields more or less, according to tension, and proportionately retards it, reacting, however, toward the end of the stroke and lending its resilience to the positive force of the finger. The exact tension of the spring required to effect the desired retardation without weakening the stroke is regulated by the set-screw collar aforesaid.

In its initial vertical position the papercarriage is so adjusted that the upper part of the hammer-face strikes the upper row of types against the large roller. To bring the supplemental rows into use, my device lowers the platen, so as to bring its horizontal radius on a line with the second or third row at will. In this case the upper part of the hammer face strikes the upper row, the middle face the middle row, the lower hammer-face the lowest row.

I am aware that various devices have been heretofore employed to move the paper-carriage across the field of impression to bring supplemental type into use in both the chief classes of type-writing machines. I only claim my mechanism therefor. This consists of a parallel moving rail 19, whereon the carriage travels, hinged to levers '0 0 at w w, where the bearings are slightly slotted to allow lat eral play. These levers are hinged at 118 to brackets 80 and are geared together where they meet midway, one of the two being slotted at 119-to receive the rounded nib of the other. They should be of equal length and with. their geared ends below the line of their bearings, so as to equally divide the arc of motion above and below. It is only necessary to lower one end in order to lowerequally in parallel the whole rail. The rail is held in normal position by the spring q, the hangers r r, and arms 38 39- of rock-shaft M. Said hangers are pivoted to rail 19 and are geared with arms 38 39, so that when the shaft is rocked either way the rail is lowered. Screw 98 stops the hanger r for capitals and screw 99 the hanger r for figures and signs. The hanger r is so notched that when the shaft is rocked to left for figures and signs the right arm of shaft switches said hanger out of touch of screw 98, so that hanger r moves farther down to its stop-screw. This gives a positive stop to both movements and prevents the impetus of the downward movement of carriage, causinginaccuracy in rapid work,as in similar devices heretofore. The shift-key L on shaft controls capitals and key L figures and signs. During the vertical movement of paper-carriage it is held upright by guide-rail R and slot in S. The levers o o are cut away on their inner ends to allow sufficient space between them and the rail for the passage of the various connecting-rods.

The ribbon is Wound and unwound on spools F, mounted on vertical shafts in standards n. The spool on the left is geared with its shaft by means of apin p and a disk 12, having perforations to receive it. The feed consists of an ordinary ratchet-wheel 13, pawl 0.,pawllever 1), connectingrod 47, and arm 117, mounted on shaft y. Frame-lever y 74 operates feed. The spools have each a pin 19 on obverse sides, and the ribbon is reversed by interchanging spools, which has the advantage of presenting a fresh margin and enhancin g its wear. The spools are loose-fitted on shafts, so as to be easily shifted. The ribbon is guided and supported between platen and type-plate by slits in the thin ICC metal strips 105, terminating the sides of H- frame, with which it is moved to and from platen at each impression to display work.

Having thus described my invention and the mode of operating the same, I claim 1. In a type-writer, the combination with the type-plate a driver-lever having two arms extending laterally on both sides of its fulcrum and mechanism connecting said plate and lever, whereby the operation of the lever will move the plate laterally, a series of keylevers, two rock-levers having their inner arms over the two driver-arms respectively, and their outer arms in a position to be raised by the key-levers, whereby the operation of any key-lever will lower the inner end of one of the rock-levers in the direction toward said lever, all as set forth.

2. 111 a type-writer, the combination with the type-plate supported loosely on a horizontal guide, and having a downwardly-projecting yoke, a driver-lever having two arms extending laterally on opposite sides of its fulcrum, and having an upwardly-extending arm engaging with the yoke of the type-plate, a series of key-levers, two transverse levers having their inner arms over the two driverarms respectively, and their outer arms in a position to be raised by the key-levers, all as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a type-writer, the combination with the type-plate, a driver-lever having two arms extending laterally on both sides of its fulcrum, and mechanism connecting said plate and lever, whereby the operation of the lever will move the plate laterally, two sets of keylevers, two rock-levers supported above said sets of key-levers, and adapted to be operated thereby, and intermediate mechanism between said rock-levers and the driver-arms, whereby the lifting of the right or left hand rock-levers by their keys will respectively move the type-plate to the right or left, all as set forth.

4:. In a type-writer, the combination with the type-plate, a driver-leverhavin g two arms extending laterally on both sides of the fulcrum, and mechanism connecting said plate and lever, whereby the operation of the lever will move the plate laterally, two sets of keylevers, two rock-levers supported above said sets of key-levers and adapted to be operated thereby, and two transverse levers having their two inner arms over the two driver-arms respectively, and their outer arms over the respective rock-levers, all as set forth.

5. In a type-writer, the combination with the type-plate, a driver-lever having two arms extending laterally on both sides of the fulcrum and a central projection and mechanism connecting said plate and lever, whereby the operation of the lever will move the plate laterally, two sets of key-levers, two rock-levers supported above said sets of key-levers, and adapted to be operated thereby, and said levers having extensions located on opposite sides of the projection of the driver-lever when the parts are in their normal positions, all as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a type-writer, the combination with the type-plate, a driver-lever having two arms extending laterally on both sides of the fulcrum and spring mechanism tending to keep said arms in a horizonal position, mechanism connecting said plate and lever, whereby the operation of the lever will move the plate laterally, two sets of key-levers, and intermediate mechanism between said key-levers and the driver-arms whereby the operation of one of the key-levers will move said driver-arms up or down, all as set forth.

7. In a type-writer, the combination with the type-plate, two sets of key-levers, and intermediate mechanism between said key-levers and plate for moving said plate laterally, astop-lever connected with the type-plate and havingits arms extending laterally on either side of its fulcrum, and adapted to be raised and lowered by the lateral movement of the type-plate, two transverse arms pivoted respectively on opposite sides of the keyboard and extending respectively over the two sets of keys, and adapted to be raised thereby, and to meet and stop the downward movement of the stop-arms, all as set forth.

8. In a type-writer, the combination with the type-plate, two sets of key-levers and intermediate mechanism between said key-levers and plate for moving the same laterally, a stop-lever connected with the type-plate and having its arms extending laterally on either side of its fulcrum, and adapted to be raised and lowered by the lateral movement of the type-plate, two transverse arms pivoted respectively on opposite sides of the keyboard and extending respectively over the two sets of key-levers, and when raised by the key-levers to meet and limit the downward movement of the stop-arms, and adj usting-screws 16 passing through the key-levers, and adapted to come in contact with the transverse arms, and raise the same when the key-levers are raised, all as set forth.

9. In a type-writer, the combination with the type-plate, a driver-lever and a stop-lever both secured to the same shaft, and the stoplever arms extending laterally on opposite sides of the shaft, two sets of key-levers, and intermediate mechanism between said keylevers, driver-lever and plate, for rocking the driver and stop levers and moving the plate laterally, two transverse arms pivoted respec tively on opposite sides of the keyboard and extending respectively over the two sets of keys, and adapted to be raised thereby, and to meet and limit the downward movement of the stop-arms, all as set forth.

10. In a type-writer, the combination with two longitudinal levers fulcrumed on uprights of the machine-frame, and connected at their inner ends by a loose joint, whereby they may rise and fall in unison, a longitudinal bar for supporting the paper-carriage and pivotally connected with the two longitudinal levers, and means for raising and lowering said bar vertically, all as set forth.

11. In a type-writer, the combination with the two longitudinal levers fulcrumed on uprights of the machine-frame, and. connected at their inner ends by a loose joint, whereby they may rise and fall in unison, a longitudinal bar for supporting the paper-carriage, and pivotally connected with the two longitudinal levers, means for raising and lowering said bar and adjustable stops for limiting the downward movement of the bar at difierent heights, all as set forth.

12. In a type-writer, the combination with the two longitudinal levers fulcrumed on up- I rights of the machine-frame, and connected at their inner ends by a loose joint, whereby they may rise and fall in unison, a longitudinal bar for supporting the paper-carriage spectively at different heights, all as set forth.

JOHN PRATT.

Witnesses:

ALFRED S. LUTTMAN, JOHN MCBRIDE. 

